I love Bryce Courtenay! I haver read a few others and each one is better than the last. Not only does the story entertain, but the historical facts and interesting settings make me feel like I have gone somewhere and learned something new.

The writing is okay except the sex scenes are so boyish and dull.The characters become increasingly ridiculous and the ending is so unbelievable as to be pathetic.Too much to slog through for a plot that could have been good.

Courtenay and Bower make for an amazing audio book combination and it was proven to me again with this book. I played it on a road trip and it was the first book where both my partner and myself did not want to turn the book off or take breaks from it. We even listened while eating meals. If you are looking for a great audio book experience you can not go wrong with this one!

Where does The Persimmon Tree rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I loved this book so much I am listening to it again! Bryce Courtney is the best story teller ever...never becoming too wordy, but not leaving out details that give you the complete story. You feel the emotion of each person presented in the book, then Humphrey Bower gives them life with his voice.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Anna was my favorite character because she is so smart for her young years and stands her ground for what she believes in. You can feel her compassion for other people and her hate for others. She is such a brave person during the time of the war.

What about Humphrey Bower’s performance did you like?

He is, by a long ways, the best narrator in the Audible Library. He brings the person to life with the variety of accents - he is a master! Very few narrators have the ability to get the emotion across to the listener like Humphrey Bower. He becomes the character.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There were parts of the book that made me laugh and other parts that made me cry.That is the beauty of Bryce Courtney's books. You never want them to end...and thankfully we get to read more about Anna and Nicholas.

Where does The Persimmon Tree rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This story is a perfect combination of history and rich, unique characters. Unlike any other story, I was enthralled with the story and loved the narrator. I felt like I knew these characters well especially with the excellent voices/accents that the narrator seamlessly executed. Didn't want it to end.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Persimmon Tree?

The often desperate state that the character Anna found herself in and her ability to rise above her circumstances were a highlight for me.

Have you listened to any of Humphrey Bower’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Love, youthful innocence, war, tropical islands and sailing the high seas are among the topics I really enjoyed during this amazing saga.